Steerable medical device having a control member holding mechanism

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a medical device. The medical device may include an elongate member, a first control member and a second control member each coupled to a distal end of the elongate member, an actuator coupled to the first control member and the second control member and configured to selectively move the first control member and the second control member to steer the elongate member, and a holding mechanism deflecting a path of the first control member from the actuator to the distal end of the elongate member and a path of the second control member from the actuator to the distal end of the elongate member. The holding mechanism may be configured to apply tension on one of the first control member and the second control member as the other is moved to steer the elongate member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical device, comprising:
 an insertion member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient; 
 a first control member and a second control member each coupled to a distal end of the insertion member; 
 an actuator coupled to the first control member and the second control member and configured to selectively move the first control member and the second control member to steer the insertion member; and 
 a holding mechanism formed of a single, unitary piece of material, wherein the holding mechanism includes a first arm including a first hooked segment and a second arm including a second hooked segment, wherein the first control member extends through the first hooked segment and the second control member extends through the second hooked segment, wherein the first arm applies tension to the first control member, and the second arm applies tension to the second control member, and wherein, when the first control member is moved to steer the insertion member, the first arm is configured to bend away from a connecting segment extending between the first arm and the second arm, and wherein, when the second control member is moved to steer the insertion member, the second arm is configured to bend away from the connecting segment. 
 
     
     
       2. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting segment extends from a first curved portion to a second curved portion, wherein the first arm extends from the first curved portion towards the connecting segment, and the second arm extends from the second curved portion towards the connecting segment. 
     
     
       3. The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein the first hooked segment is between the second hooked segment and the second curved portion, and wherein the second hooked segment is between the first hooked segment and the first curved portion. 
     
     
       4. The medical device of  claim 2 , wherein, when the holding mechanism is in a naturally biased state, a first radius of curvature of the first curved portion differs from a second radius of curvature of the second curved portion. 
     
     
       5. The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the insertion member, wherein the handle houses the first control member, the second control member, and the holding mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The medical device of  claim 5 , wherein the holding mechanism is affixed to an inner surface of the handle. 
     
     
       7. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the first arm is longer than a length of the second arm when the holding mechanism is in a naturally biased state. 
     
     
       8. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of each of the first and second control members is connected to a spool, and wherein the holding mechanism is not coaxial with the spool. 
     
     
       9. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hooked segment has a different shape than the second hooked segment. 
     
     
       10. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein, when the holding mechanism is in a naturally biased state, the first arm is transverse to the second arm. 
     
     
       11. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein, when the holding mechanism is in a naturally biased state, the first hooked segment is not parallel to the second hooked segment. 
     
     
       12. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first control member is moved proximally, the first control member moves through the first hooked segment in a proximal direction. 
     
     
       13. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the first control member is connected to a spool, wherein a distal end of the first control member is coupled to the insertion member, and wherein a portion of the first control member between the proximal end and the distal end passes through the first hooked segment. 
     
     
       14. A medical device, comprising:
 an insertion member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient and including a longitudinal axis; 
 a first control member and a second control member each coupled to a distal end of the insertion member; 
 an actuator coupled to the first control member and the second control member and configured to selectively move the first control member and the second control member to steer the insertion member; and 
 a holding mechanism including a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is configured to apply tension on the first control member, and the second arm is configured to apply tension on the second control member, wherein, when the holding mechanism is in a naturally biased state, the first arm is transverse to the second arm, and wherein, when the actuator moves the first control member to steer the insertion member, the first arm is configured to bend away from a connecting segment extending between the first arm and the second arm, and, when the actuator moves the second control member to steer the insertion member, the second arm is configured to bend away from the connecting segment, wherein a free end of the first arm includes a first hooked segment through which the first control member extends, and wherein a free end of the second arm includes a second hooked segment through which the second control member extends, and wherein the holding mechanism is formed of a single, unitary piece of material. 
 
     
     
       15. The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator is configured to proximally retract the first control member and distally advance the second control member to steer the insertion member in a first direction, and wherein the actuator is configured to proximally retract the second control member and distally advance the first control member to steer the insertion member in a second direction. 
     
     
       16. The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein a proximal end of the first control member is connected to a spool, wherein a distal end of the first control member is coupled to the insertion member, and wherein a portion of the first control member between the proximal end and the distal end passes through the first hooked segment. 
     
     
       17. A medical device, comprising:
 an insertion member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient; 
 a first control member and a second control member each coupled to a distal end of the insertion member; 
 an actuator coupled to the first control member and the second control member and configured to selectively move the first control member and the second control member to steer the insertion member; and 
 a holding mechanism including a first arm configured to apply tension on the first control member and having a first hooked segment, and a second arm configured to apply tension on the second control member and having a second hooked segment, wherein the first control member extends through the first hooked segment, and the second control member extends through the second hooked segment, wherein, when the holding mechanism is in a naturally biased state, the first arm has a different shape than the second arm, and wherein, when the actuator moves the first control member to steer the insertion member, the first control member is configured to apply a force on the first hooked segment to bend the first arm away from a connecting segment extending between the first arm and the second arm, and wherein, when the actuator moves the second control member to steer the insertion member, the second control member is configured to apply a force on the second hooked segment to bend the second arm away from the connecting segment, and wherein the holding mechanism is formed of a single, unitary piece of material. 
 
     
     
       18. The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the first arm is configured to apply tension to the first control member by deflecting a path of the first control member, and the second arm is configured to apply tension to the second control member by deflecting a path of the second control member. 
     
     
       19. The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein a proximal end of the first control member is connected to a spool, wherein a distal end of the first control member is coupled to the insertion member, and wherein a portion of the first control member between the proximal end and the distal end passes through the first hooked segment.